Product Details
A GOOD .50-70 SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 / 1867 METALLIC CARTRIDGE CONVERSION CARBINE OF THE INDIAN WARS, serial no. 64,470,
with 22in. barrel rifled with three grooves, block and blade front-sight and ladder rear-sight, the lock stamped 'SHARPS PAT / OCT. 5TH 18522' to the centre and below the pellet primer 'R. S. LAWRENCE PAT / APRIL 12TH 1859', the action tang stamped with the serial number 64,470 dating 1863, iron mounted two-piece walnut stock, half fore-end secured by one spring retained barrel band, this is an excellent specimen with much original blue to barrel and fading case colours to action
Provenance: This was originally a New Model 59 made in 1863 and probably issued and used. In 1867 the U.S. Ordnance contracted with the Sharps Company to convert over 30,000 carbines to .50-70 centrefire. The carbines were totally refurbished, some retained their original .52 six groove rifled barrels and others had a liner fitted into the barrel with three groove rifling reducing the calibre to .50 making them a true .50-70 and a much more accurate weapon. Most were issued to cavalry regiments on the Western frontier during the Indian Wars. They remained on issue until replaced with the .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield carbine, then in the mid-1870's many were sold off to farmers, settlers, ranchers and cowboys, many of course fell into the hands of the Native Americans. A piece of both Civil War and Western history
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Estimate £1,000-1,500
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament